Friction-clutch.



may be readily applied and released without .through the rim showing adetail ofconstrucfrom which project spokes 15, 16,

and the rim being preferably divi secured a strip UNITED STATES.nagrnivr OFFICE.

FRIC'liON-CLUTCH.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

No.s97,9o9.

Application filed July 17, 1907. Serial No. 384,196. To all whom it mayconcern: inner surface of the flange 12. The clutch Be it known that I,DANIEL F. LEPLEY, band is of less length than the (periphery of acitizen of the United States, residing at the pulley, and its oppositeen s are thick- Connellsville,in'thecounty of Fayette and ened andreinforced as shown in Fig. 1,"one

State of Pennsylvanizuhave invented a new and useful Friction-Clutch, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to friction clutches, and has for its principalobject to provide a clutch of very simp e construction which number ofspaced studs 26 that extend through elongated passages 27 formed iiithe:

periphery of the rim of the clutch, these pasl sages extending. alsothrough bosses 28 that project inward from the inner rim. The passages27 are of sufiicient length to permit the necessary longitudinalmovement of the band during the clutching and unclutching operations.The studs are of a diameter a trifle less than the width of the passa es27 so that the band is held from later-a displacement. The inner portionof each stud is surrounded by a-coiled compression spring 29 that bearsat one end against the boss '28 and at the opposite end against a nut 30at the inner threaded end of the stud, these springs serving to retractthe band and move the same to-unclutching position. .The clutchingmemiber as viewed in Fig. 1 is arranged to revolve clockwise, and thatend of the band having the seat 24 is therefore the load supporting endof the clutch. Into the seat'24 extends the outer end of a lever 32,said lever passing through a slot 33 formed in a thickened portion ofthe rim 18, and an intermediate portion of the lever bedanger ofbreakage or distortion of the parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch which may bereadily adjusted to compensate for wear.

\Vith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter apear, the invention consists in certain nove features of constructionand arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, 'llustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and particularly ointed out in the appendedclaims, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without.departing from the s irit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages o theinvention. a

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is an elevation of a clutchconstructed in accordance with the invention: Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view of thersame on the line 2- -2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection tion. 1 ing mounted on a stud or pin 34. The lower Similarnumerals of reference are emcentral portion of the lever isrounded,b'eing loyed to indicate corresponding arts arranged on a curvedline struck from-the center of the stud face fits against. acorresponding concaved ortion forming the lower wall of the slot 33, sothat the clutching strain will be imposed on the rim 18 and spoke 17,rather than directly upon the pivot stud,

' The inner end of' the lever 32 is provided with a cap bored for thepassageof adjusting screws 36 that extend also through openings 37 inthe spoke 17. The headedend of the screws or bolts bear against one wallof. the spoke, and the opposite or threaded ends thereof carry nuts 39which may be adjusted to exercise greater or less pressure on the inherend of t e lever 32 for the purpose of adjusting the friction band andcompensatin for any wear on the outer surface of the band orthe innersurface of the flan e 12. The rim- 18 is further provided wit a slot 40through which passes a lever 41 that is pivthroughout the severalfigures of the rawmgs.

The clutch forming the subject of the present invention is designed toalternately connect and release theshaft 10 and a drum, pulley or othermember 11 which is normally oose on the shaft, said member having a pe.ripheral flange 12, within which the clutching memberisarrange Rigidl'ysecured to the shaft is a hub 14 and 17 spokes 15, ed, especially wherethe clutch is of very large diam eter and the parts being securedtogether by bolts 19.

Extending around the rim is a curved steel band 22, to the outer face ofwhich is 23 of fiber or. other suitable material, which'willfrictionally engage the a run 18, the hub, the

carrying of such ends being provided with a seat 24,-

Extending inward from the band are" a surface of the "band'and theflange will oted on a pin 42. The outer end of the lever fits in theseat 25 of the friction band, While the inner end passes through an eyeformed in the outer end of a link43. The inner end of the link 43 ispivoted between lugs 44 projecting from a grooved collar-45 that isslidably mounted onthe hub 15, and may be moved in the usual manner in adirection lengthwiseof the shaft. o

In applying the clutchv the collar 45 is moved in the direction ofthespokes, and the link 43 is thrust outward.- This movement istransmitted through the lever 41 and thence to the friction band tendingto move the latter in the direction of its length. As the opposite endof the bandis supported by the link 32 and endwise movement isprevented, the band'is compelled to spread outwith the inner surfaceward into engagement of the flange 12 and the friction between thegradually increase until the full length of the band is in activeclutching en agement, while 7 the load is borne" by the Iever' 32.Inreleasing, the collar 45 is moved in the opposite direction, or

away from the spokes, and the springs may,

retract the band.

In clutches f the band type, it is generally found impracticable toadjust to compensate for Wear, but in the present instance any wear'maybe readily taken up by adjusting the band in the This results inmovement'xof direction of its length, that is to say, the same:direction in which the clutching strain has been previously borne, sothat there is no fresh strain or strain in another direction imposed onthe band as ,a result of the adjustment.- i I ,1 claim i 1. In aninternal friction clutch, a revoluble disk or Wheel having slots in itsrim, one

the bolts 36.

wall of one of the slots being concaved,'a friction band encircling, therim, a lever pivotally mounted in one of the slots and avlng a I curvedseating face resting against the concaved Wall of the slot, means foradjusting said lever to compensate for wear of the parts, a second leverextending through a band, and a series second slot in the rim andengagin the oppo-v site end of. the band, and b means for operatingth'esecond lever to apply or release the band and projecting through thepassages in of ,studs secured to the the rim to prevent lateradisplacement of said band.

3. In an internal friction clutch, a revolu-.

ble disk or wheel having a slotted rim and provided with elongatedpassages, a friction lever, a second lever band partly encircling thesame, an adjustable support extending through one of they slots andcarrying one endof-the band, a clutch operating lever extending throughanother slot and engaging the opposite end'of the band, a se'ries ofstuds projecting inward from the band and extending through the saidpassages in the'rim, and springs encircling said studs and tending tocontract the band and release the clutch.

4. In an internal friction clutch, a revoluble wheel or disk having aslotted rim, one of said slots having a concaved'wall, a lever extendingthrough saidslot and having a convex face resting against the concavedwall, a friction band partly encircling therim and havingat one end anopening for the reception of one end of said lever, adjustable screwsconnected to the opposite end of the extending through another slot inthe rim site end of theband, and means for operating said second lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. DANIEL LEPLEYQ Witnesses:

P. BUFANO, R. DE ANGELL and engaging the oppo-

